(Newser)
–
As Arab League observers begin to bail on their Syria mission—frustrated over their own failure to end the government crackdown against protesters—the leader of the League says he's concerned the crisis could escalate. "I fear a civil war and the events that we see and hear about now could lead to a civil war," said Nabil Elaraby in an interview with Egyptian TV. What's more, "any problems in Syria will have consequences for the neighboring states."

Still, he said, there's "no doubt that the pace of killing has fallen with the presence of the observers." Monitors are set to report on their observations next week to foreign ministers, who "will decide whether there is any benefit in continuing or not," Elaraby said. But opposition leaders say the observers have simply handed President Bashar al-Assad extra time to clash with protesters. Reuters spoke to one of the departed monitors, who described his colleagues' "anger." "The mission does not serve the citizens," added another. "It does not serve anything."

Civil war in Syria? Fine. We had one and we turned out okay (except for the current GOP).

JackNelsonSteward

Jan 13, 2012 12:35 PM CST

When the "Free Syrian Army," comprising, it is reported, thousands or even tens of thousands of soldiers who have deserted the Syrian Army, massing across the border in camps in Turkey, with military actions carried out against government buildings, with the Syrian army shelling its own cities, and with snipers on the rooftops killing peaceful protestors ... what additional ingredient is needed before you reasonably call what's happening "civil war?" Someone to declare it? OK ... it's a civil war.